Tube contents expulsion sleeve

Abstract

A sleeve for efficiently emptying the contents of a flexible tube filled with viscous material. The sleeve is generally arrowhead shaped having manual gripping structures on the opposite sides thereof and facing internal lands which engage the exterior surfaces of the tube. When slid toward the nozzle of the tube, the sleeve forces the contents of the tube out the open nozzle. The manual gripping structures can be depressed grip regions which correspond to the internal lands, serrations, and/or upstanding finger engaging abutment surfaces. In some embodiments the edges holding the opposite sides together are flexible so that pressure thereon tends to spread the internal lands and pressure on the grips tends to move the internal lands closer together.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A sleeve for use with a container tube for movement in a direction longitudinal of the tube to assist in removing contents from the tube, the sleeve including: first and second arrowhead shaped sides, each of said sides having a leading edge having a centrally located nose;   an outer surface with manual grip enhancement means thereon;   the sleeve being deformable by manual pressure on the grip enhancement means to assist in expressing contents from the tube;   an inner surface having at least one upstanding land thereon, said land having a central portion extending at least a substantial portion of the length of the sleeve longitudinal of the tube, the outer portions of the land extending a substantially less distance than the central portion; and   first and second opposite edges connecting said first and second sides together in a closely spaced relationship.   
     
     
       2. The sleeve as defined in claim 1 wherein said first and second opposite edges are relatively small flexible edge portions located adjacent said trailing edges so that said noses of said first and second sides can be flexed together. 
     
     
       3. The sleeve as defined in claim 2 wherein said lands include a plurality of serrations extending across said inner surfaces. 
     
     
       4. The sleeve as defined in claim 1 wherein said first and second opposite edges are relatively thin and flexible. 
     
     
       5. The sleeve as defined in claim 4 wherein said first and second opposite edges are semicircular in cross section when in an unstressed condition. 
     
     
       6. A sleeve according to claim 1, wherein: the trailing edge of the sleeve is curvilinear and concave to accommodate manual gripping and handling in installation and operation of the sleeve.   
     
     
       7. A sleeve for use with a container tube to assist in removing contents from the tube, the sleeve including: first and second arrowhead shaped sides, each of said sides having: a leading edge having a centrally located nose,   an outer surface with manual grip enhancement means thereon, and   an inner surface having at least one upstanding land thereon,     said at least one upstanding land on each inner surface being arrowhead shaped with a nose generally toward the leading edges of the first and second sides, and   first and second opposite edges connecting said first and second sides together in a closely spaced relationship.   
     
     
       8. The sleeve as defined in claim 7 wherein said manual grip enhancement means on each outer surface are arrowhead shaped. 
     
     
       9. The sleeve as defined in claim 8 wherein said at least one land extends across said inner surface. 
     
     
       10. The sleeve as defined in claim 8 wherein said lands extend across said inner surfaces almost to said first and second edges to form small gaps therebetween. 
     
     
       11. The sleeve as defined in claim 7 wherein said manual grip enhancement means on each outer surface include at least one depression.